Not Going to Sugar Coat It

This will probably be one of my least "politically correct" posts..but I seriously don't care. Violence and pain inflicted on inocent and not so inocent people just can not be glossed over. I seriously can not find any rational behind it nor from the words the "experts" use to explain it.

In my neck of the woods, we have been dealing with a lot of gang violence of late. Well, I should not say of late because it has been going on for many years, but it really has escalated to some seriously dangerous levels since the beginning of the year. I think my city will have more homocides that the previous "leading" year of 1987. I mean, there is a horrible homocide involving youngsters on a daily basis or pretty damn close.

The most recent homocides involved two unassuming young females leaving a night club. One was shot by cross-fire from two rival street gangs and the other thought she knew someone who was honking at her. She pulled over (not too bright, but......) and was shot and killed instantly. Did I mention each of these young women just turned 21, were bright college students, from great families, yada, yada, yada........ that just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? My heart goes out to them and their families. What a waste of life.

I have always worried about my own kids being in the the wrong place at the wrong time. A party or a nighclub. Someone gets a little pissed off because someone else is wearing the wrong colors or listening to the wrong music. A fight breaks out. security does all that it can do WITHOUT involving the police. Because, the more times the police are called out to a particular club, the more danger the club owner is in of losing his liquor license. Without booze, what good is a night club? Oh, did I mention how great of a mix alcohol and fire arms are? Sweetie's son-in-law was killed at a gas station by stray bullets meant for another group of youngsters. He left behind a wife and son. Pretty damn sad. And in the most simplistic terms.......I just don't get it!

I can not condone violence in any way shape or form. Yeah, sure, I've contemplated ringing someone's neck. The boyz' dad comes to my mind as I type this. But, would I act on it? Nah....that is what blogging is for.

What I am having a hard time understanding and I know this should not even be an issue because crime is color blind and effects all groups of people, is race on race or ethnic groups killing eachother. I guess being second generation, Italian-American is why I don't get that part. See, we, as an ethnic group went through all of this crap a few generations ago. I guess you could say we were the original.......O.G.'s. We killed eachother. I remember so clearly the older women talking about how they lost a son or a grandson, nephew or whomever (women weren't quite yet involved in this crap) to either death or prison, This is probably why someone could not even pay me good money to sit through a Soprano's episode. I truely don't like seeing my herritage portrayed that way. In my world, I would like to think.......we have educated ourselves and have moved on from being the original thugs or gangstas (ers). Yes, there still are a few "bad apples."

No......it is not someone elses turn to take over the thug role. It should just stop. But, seriously how can it? Hmmmmm........do the math......dealing drugs, illegal gambling, running guns or other mass weapons of destruction, prostitution or a day working at WalMart. What nets more cash? And do you even have to report that cash?

Well, our education system in this country promotes all of our youngsters to become CEO's and to not persue any trades because, God forbid someone work with his or her own hands.......so that leaves a lot of young people left out of the grand scheme of things. Because, I am sorry, but not all of our young people are cut out to be CEO's or posess any skill even remotely resembling business in general. And we won't even touch on the fact that most of the assembly related jobs have moved off-shore because of cheaper labor and less taxes etc.

Yes, I am completely aware of the fact we have a huge problem of illegal immigrants in this country and especially this state that have moved up from picking grapes and/or cleaning hotel rooms (neither job suited too many people) into the construction industry and other professions that, even today, we as citizens of this country wouldn't mind working. The pay is pretty good...........work is still hard, but it beats picking grapes.........anything beats picking grapes. Trust me, I know. I did it for about five minutes because I worked in the wine industry as a sales rep and the company I worked for thought it would be oh, so fun to "let" us pick grapes. Sucky. Sucky. I could not find the humor or any amusement. Go Cesar Chavez!

But, this crime wave.........wow. I know it is not just my city, where I live. It's national and not just in the inner-city any longer. But what is the answer? Prison? Yeah, that reforms people and makes them all righteous and upstanding upon exiting. The death penalty? Sorry, I can't see how that works. It never brings back the victim and seriously, how does it promote or create "closure?" I just don't believe in violence, even state sanctuated violence. That, too, is premeditated.

Speaking of immigrants.........this is the part I seriously do not get. We have a huge Russian/Ukranian immigrant population in the out-lying areas of where I live. They are, by nature, Fundamentalists or Evangelical....Baptist? I believe. I am sorry, spoken like a typical Italian....I know Catholicism and have spent many years running from that, as well. So, excuse me, really, for not being up on Protestant religions. But, any way.........there new thing. Go beat the holy shit out of a homosexual man. It's ok and your Pastor condones it. Really....truthfully. That is the new one.

Gay men, downtown, are being warned.....by posters, fliers, e-mails, etc.......about a group of young Russian or former Soviet Union youth ENCOURAGED to beat the crap out of them. This has been highly publisized and completely condoned by so-called, "Christian Pastors."

What I fail to understand about this scenario is...........these are the same people that chose to come to this country, this state, this city to flee persecution from their homeland. One would possibly remember how it felt to be "persecuted".....correct? It really wasn't that long ago when the wall came tumbling down and the former Soviet Union ceased to exist. So, my question to these up and coming thugs is.........Why would you, YOU, of all people inflict persecution on someone else just because they do not share YOUR beliefs. You seriously don't remember how you and your family felt? Why? It's NOT God's will.......I don't know of any Bible that would state that your behavior is acceptable. Your Pastor has some serious issues and perhaps even some closet homosexual tendancies himself.......I dunno, nor do I honestly care.

I just want my streets, my family, friends, loved ones, etc.........safe from all of your stupid......Yes, Stupid.........shit.

My rant for the day! And, for the record............this was written by a liberal. Please, no one call me a racist. You can call me a miraid of many other choice words. But a racist.....I am not.

Be safe! Ciao!
Angie